Bohemian, Antique Conus Shell Section Replica, Yellow 48x28mm
SKU: AFE-2119
Sale price
$24.00
Shipping calculated at checkout
Only 1 in stock
Description
- Antique yellow glass reproduction of conus shell slices once used as currency in east Africa. 48x28mm
- According to Pete Francis, the colonial Brits destroyed a lot of those shells because of their supposed connection to paganism. Crime resulted due to lack of currency and other grievances. The Brits commissioned then the Bohemian bead and button makers to produce copies of the shells with serial numbers so they could be tracked. Eventually the Brits left and the Czechs just continued producing copies or the shells in an array of colors, and without the numbers. Lesson to the Brits: Don't mess with our beads!
- These beads remain popular especially in east Africa and among American collectors and designers, who now also have access to smaller and less expensive brand new copies of the copies. See AFE-525 and AFE-529